Shreyas Iyer (73*) scored his third unbeaten fifty in three matches as India chased down 147 against Sri Lanka with 19 balls and six wickets in hand, at the HPCA Stadium in Dharamshala on Sunday. With this victory India completed a 3-0 whitewash as well as joined Afghanistan and Romania for the most consecutive wins (12) in T20Is.
It was yet another comprehensive all-round show by India after Dasun Shanaka won the toss and opted to bat. The Sri Lankan top order was blown away by some skillful bowling by Avesh Khan and Mohammed Siraj, both of whom were playing their first match of the series. They bowled with serious pace to reduce Sri Lanka to 11/3 in the fourth over.
Danushka Gunathilaka was the first to go, dragging one from Siraj on to the stumps in the first over. Avesh then had the in-form Pathum Nissanka caught at mid-off, and undid Charith Asalanka with extra bounce. These were his first two international wckets.
Following that opening spell by the pacers, leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi got into the act and removed Janith Liyanage. Sri Lanka were left tottering at 29/4 in the ninth over.
Shanaka took charge from there with a 38-ball 74. It was only because of his effort that Sri Lanka managed to get close to 150 and give their bowlers something to bowl at. In fact, extras (24) was the second-highest scorer for them. Barring Shanaka, who struck at 195, managed to score at even a run a ball.
Sanju Samson (18) then opened batting alongside Rohit Sharma (5) in the absence of Ishan Kishan, but both got out cheaply. Deepak Hooda (21), sent to bat at No. 4, failed to capitalise. The team management then pushed Venkatesh Iyer (5) up the order ahead of Ravindra Jadeja (22*) to join Shreyas, who batted at No. 3.
For Sri Lanka, Lahiru Kumara got two wickets, but overall their bowling attack hardly put pressure on an in-form Indian batting line-up.
Sri Lanka 146/5 in 20 overs (Dasun Shanaka 74*; Avesh Khan 2/23) lost to India 148/4 in 16.5 overs (Shreyas Iyer 73*; Lahiru Kumara 2-29) by 6 wickets with 19 balls to spare. Player of the Match: Shreyas Iyer.
India won the Series 3-0. Player of the Series: Shreyas Iyer.